Stationary exercise apparatus with variable foot path

Abstract

An exercise apparatus includes a frame adapted to be rested on a floor surface, a crank mechanism that has two cranks mounted on the frame, two swing members pivotally mounted on the frame, two connecting assemblies, and a guiding device. Each of the two connecting assemblies has a plurality of connecting rods connecting the respective crank and the respective swing member. The two connecting assemblies define two pedal portions for supporting a user's feet, and up-and-down movement of the pedal portions causes rotation of the two cranks along a circular path. The guiding device is configured to connect the two swing members for guiding swing movement of the two swing members within a predetermined swing range. The predetermined swing range is adjustable so as to provide various exercise paths.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a frame adapted to be rested on a floor surface; 
 a crank mechanism having a crankshaft rotatably mounted to the frame and a pair of cranks respectively mounted on two opposite ends of the crankshaft; 
 two connecting assemblies, each defining a first pivot portion, a second pivot portion, a pedal portion and a plurality of connecting rods connecting the first pivot portion, the second pivot portion and the pedal portion, the first pivot portions of the two connecting assemblies respectively pivotally connected to outer ends of the two cranks to move along a circular path about the crankshaft, the pedal portions of the two connecting assemblies configured to support a user's feet, and up-and-down movement of the pedal portions causing the first pivot portions to be rotated along the circular path; 
 two swing members pivotally mounted to the frame, each of the two swing members having a lower end pivotally connected to the second pivot portion of the corresponding connecting assembly, such that the second pivot portion is able to move forward and backward with respect to the frame; and 
 a guiding device having a motor mounted on the frame and coupled to the two swing members for guiding swing movement of the two swing members within a predetermined range, when a force of the user applied to the two swing members is insufficient to achieve the predetermined swing range, the motor is operable to provide an assisting force for assisting the movement of the two swing members to the predetermined swing range; 
 wherein, the predetermined swing range is adjustable, when the predetermined swing range is changed, an exercise path of the pedal portion is changed at the same time. 
 
     
     
       2. The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the exercise apparatus provides three exercise modes; in a first exercise mode, the motor is controlled to hold the two swing members in a substantially parallel position, and the movement of the first pivot portions of the two connecting assemblies guides the up-and-down movement of the pedal portions; in a second exercise mode, the motor is controlled to limit the movement of the two swing members within a first swing range, and the movement of the first pivot portions of the two connecting assemblies guides the pedal portions to move along a substantially circular path; in a third exercise mode, the motor is controlled to limit the movement of the two swing members within a second swing range, and the movement of the first pivot portions of the two connecting assemblies guides the pedal portions to move along a substantially elliptical path; wherein the second swing range is greater than the first swing range. 
     
     
       3. The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a maximum distance of the first swing range is substantially equal to a diameter of the circular path in which the first pivot portion is rotated; and a maximum distance of the second swing range is greater than the diameter of the circular path in which the first pivot portion is rotated. 
     
     
       4. The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the crank mechanism has a rotational speed sensor configured for detecting a rotational speed of the two cranks, when the rotational speed sensor detects that the rotational speed of the two cranks achieves a predetermined rotational speed, the motor is actuated. 
     
     
       5. The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the guiding device further has a linking mechanism connecting the motor and the two swing members, the linking mechanism of the guiding device having a link arm and two link rods, the motor having a shaft fixed to the link arm so that the link arm is swingable by the shaft of the motor, the two link rods respectively connecting two ends of the link arm to the two swing members so that the two swing members are interconnected with each other and moved in opposite directions relative to one another. 
     
     
       6. The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the motor has a torque sensor configured for detecting torque on the shaft of the motor to determine a swing angle of the two swing members, when the torque sensor detects that a swing force of the two swing members acting on the shaft of the motor is insufficient to achieve the predetermined swing range, the motor is operable to provide an assisting force for assisting the swing movement of the two swing members to the predetermined swing range; and when the torque sensor detects that the swing force of the two swing members acting on the shaft of the motor is excessive to exceed the predetermined swing range, the motor is operable to provide a resisting force for limiting the swing movement of the two swing members within the predetermined swing range. 
     
     
       7. The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connecting rods of each connecting assembly include a first rod and a second rod pivotally connected with each other, the first rod having one end pivotally connected to the corresponding crank to form the first pivot portion and the other end pivotally connected to one end of the second rod, the second rod pivotally connected to the corresponding swing member at the second pivot portion and the pedal portion defined on the other end of the second rod, such that second rod is pivotable relative to the first rod. 
     
     
       8. The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein when the force of the user applied to the two swing members is excessive to exceed the predetermined swing range, the motor is operable to provide a resisting force for limiting the movement of the two swing members within the predetermined swing range. 
     
     
       9. The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connecting rods of each connecting assembly include a first rod and a second rod telescopically mounted with each other, the first rod having a front end pivotally connected to the corresponding crank to form the first pivot portion, the second rod pivotally connected to the corresponding swing member at the second pivot portion and the pedal portion defined on the second rod opposite to the first rod, such that the second rod is movable relative to a longitudinal direction of the first rod. 
     
     
       10. The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein a position of the first pivot portion of each connecting assembly is located higher than a position of the second pivot portion.